Husein Mutahar

Major Muhammad Husein Mutahar (Arabic: محمّد حسين مطهر‎, romanized: Muḥammad Ḥusayn Muṭahar; full name: (Arabic: سيد محمّد حسين بن سليم بن أحمد بن سليم المطهر‎, romanized: Sayyid Muḥammad Ḥusayn bin Salīm bin ʾaḥmad bin Salīm al-Muṭahar); 5 August 1916 – 9 June 2004) was the founder of Paskibraka, a youth organization in Indonesia which has the main task for raising and lowering the heirloom national flag of Indonesia (now duplicate) in ceremonies commemorating the independence day of Indonesia (17 August).[2] Mutahar was also an Indonesian music composer, especially for national anthems[3] and children's songs.[4] As a composer, he was better known as H. Mutahar as his abbreviation name.[4] In addition, as a diplomat Mutahar was once believed to be the Indonesian ambassador to the Vatican in 1969 to 1973.[5]

Major Muhammad Husein Mutahar
محمّد حسين مطهر
Mutahar wore a scout outfit in 1998
2nd Indonesia Ambassador to Vatican
In office 1969–1973
Preceded by	Mohammad Nazir
Succeeded by	Subagio Surjaningrat
Personal details
Born	Muhammad Husein (1916-08-05)August 5, 1916 Semarang, Dutch East Indies
Died	June 9, 2004(2004-06-09) (aged 87) Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, Jakarta, Indonesia
Resting place	Jeruk Purut Cemetery[1]
Nationality	Indonesian
Parents	Salim Mutahar (father)
Alma mater	Europeesche Lagere School Meer Uitgebreid Lager Onderwijs Algemene Middelbare School Gadjah Mada University
Occupation	Indonesian Army composer diplomat
Known for	Founder of Paskibraka
Awards	Bintang Gerilya Bintang Mahaputra Pratama
Other name	H. Mutahar
Ethnicity	Arab Indonesian
Military service
Allegiance	Indonesia
Branch/service	Indonesian Navy
Rank	Major
Battles/wars	Battle of Five Days Indonesian National Revolution

Biography

Early life

Husein Mutahar was born in Semarang, Central Java on 5 August 1916.[6] Mutahar came from al-Muṭahar clan of the family of Ba 'Alawi sada, his father was named Sayyid Salim bin Ahmad bin Salim al-Mutahar.[7]

Education

Mutahar go to elementary school in the Europeesche Lagere School for 7 years. While studying at the ELS, in addition to studying general knowledge at school, he also concurrently studied the al-Quran to a female teacher named Encik Nur.[6] After graduating, he then went to middle school in Meer Uitgebreid Lager Onderwijs while concurrently studying religious knowledge to Kyai Saleh in Semarang. After three years, he went to high school at Algemene Middelbare School and majored in Eastern Literature, especially Malay language, in Yogyakarta.[3]

Mutahar had studied at the Faculty of Law of Gadjah Mada University, from 1946 to 1947, after two years he then chose to drop out for participating in the Indonesian National Revolution.[8] In addition, he also attended the Training School Diplomatic and Consular Affairs in the Netherlands and also attended the Training School Diplomatic and Consular Affairs at the United Nations office in New York.[6]

Personal life

Mutahar was not married during his life, but has 8 adopted children (6 men and 2 girls). Some were "submitted" from their mother (who were widow) or from their father some time before he was passing away. There was also a father or mother who voluntarily gave up his children to be recognized as Mutahar's children.[6]

Career

Military career

As a soldier, Mutahar foughtin in the heroic Five-Day Battle of Semarang. Mutahar moved to Yogyakarta with Sukarno when there was the transfer of capital of the Republic of Indonesia from Jakarta to Yogyakarta in 1946, he was invited by Rear admiral Mohammad Nazir who was served as Chief of Staff of the Navy. Mutahar was later appointed a secretary of commander with the rank of a Lieutenant.[9]

While accompanying Nazir, Sukarno remembered Mutahar as a driver driving his car in Semarang, a few days after the Five Day Battle. Mutahar was then asked by Sukarno from Nazir to serve as his adjutant and was promoted to Major.[8] Mutahar then became Adjutant III, then Adjutant II of the President of the Republic of Indonesia from 1946 to 1948.[6]

Political career

Mutahar had been a member of a political party from 1938 to 1942. During that time he became a clerk in the Consultative Bureau of the Ministry of Industry for North Central Java, Department of Economic Affairs. After Indonesia was occupied by Japan, in 1943 he then became secretary to the head of economic division at the Central Java Governor's office.[6]

After Indonesian independence during Sukarno's leadership in 1966, Mutahar was assigned as Director General of Youth Affairs and Scout at the Ministry of Education and Culture of Indonesia until 1968 when Suharto's leadership.[10] Furthermore, from 1969 to 1979, he became an employee of the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia.[6] In addition, as a diplomat he was later appointed as Indonesian Ambassador to the Vatican in 1969-1973.[5] But his last position in politics was as Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1974.[3]

Music composer career

As a music composer, Mutahar was better known as H. Mutahar as his abbreviation name[4] and has created nearly a hundred songs.[9] His first work was Syukur, the song was written in Semarang on September 7, 1944[11] and was first introduced to the public in January 1945, a few months before the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence on August 17, 1945. Through the song of Syukur, Mutahar wanted to reveal a great praise and affirm to the listener that the homeland of Indonesia which will soon be free is a gift of God.[12]

His second song was created in 1946 under the title Hari Merdeka.[12] The song was created in the toilet of Hotel Garuda Yogyakarta, at that time he was roommate with Hoegeng Iman Santoso who are both in charge of escorting Sukarno. Hoegeng confused to find paper and pens because Mutahar rushed to pour his ideas onto the paper. Hari Merdeka is often played on the anniversary of the Proclamation. In addition, the song of Syukur and Hari Merdeka was ever reworked by Addie MS with a philharmonic orchestra in Australia.[9]

His last works include Dirgahayu Indonesiaku (created in 1995 and became the official song on the 50th anniversary of Indonesian Independence),[4] Hymne Almamater (Hymne Universitas Indonesia),[13] and several other hymns born of his concern over the destruction of Indonesia's nature.[9] One of the hymns of his creation, Hymne Pramuka (created in 1964) is today the official song for the Gerakan Pramuka Indonesia.[14] For the children's song category, Mutahar was also a composer of several children's songs, including Gembira, Tepuk Tangan Silang-silang, Mari Tepuk, Slamatlah, Jangan Putus Asa, and Saat Berpisah.[12]

Activities for the nation and people

Major Mutahar was part of the 6-man color party that on 17 August 1946, just as the Indonesian National Revolution was raging, took on the first national flag raising ceremony in Yogyakarta in commemoration of the 1st anniversary of national independence, presided by President Sukarno at the Gedung Agung Palace. Together with 5 other youths with him as the escorts, he raised the Bendera Pusaka (the Flag of Indonesia) just as Indonesia Raya was played by a military band[15] to a joyful populace. It would be repeated again in 1947 and 1949.

With the transfer of the capital to Jakarta, Mutahar did not see any flag raising ceremonies until 1966 at the Merdeka Palace but the flag raising method still remained. In 1967, he advised then President Suharto on the formation of the Pasukan Pengibar Bendera Pusaka or National Heirloom Flag Hoisting Troop, with a mission to escort, hoist and lower the flag during Independence Day and other national holiday celebrations in the national and regional levels. In time for the 22nd Independence Day, his suggestion was accepted. The Pasikbraka of today traces its origin to the 70-man color party that was formed for the 1967 Independence Day national flag ceremonies, he was the first mentor of the unit and helped chose and train its first generation personnel.

Awards

On February 15, 1961, Mutahar was awarded Bintang Mahaputra Pratama by the government of the Republic of Indonesia without a presidential decree.[16] In addition, he also received the Bintang Gerilya award unknown dates and years of the conferment.[9]

References

1. Amr (4 August 2014). "Ziarah ke Makam Husein Mutahar, Pendiri Paskibraka" [Pilgrimage to the Tomb of Husein Mutahar, Founder of Paskibraka]. Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Indonesia official website. Archived from the original on 24 March 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
2. Azram, Syaiful (21 June 2007). "Husein Mutahar: Bapak Paskibraka!" [Husein Mutahar: Founding Father of Paskibraka!]. Bulletin Paskibraka ’78. Jakarta: Paguyuban Paskibraka 1978. p. 3. Archived from the original on 24 March 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
3. Official (1 January 2018) [first published 2005 (as book version)]. "Mutahar, H" [Mutahar, H]. Ensiklopedi Jakarta: Culture & Heritage (in Indonesian). 3 (Online ed.). Jakarta: Department of Culture and Museum of Jakarta Special Region Provincial Government. ISBN 9789798682490. Archived from the original on 24 March 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
4. Gunawan, 2007, p. 173.
5. "Vatikan" [Vatican]. Vatican City: Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Vatican; Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. Archived from the original on 24 March 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
6. Official (21 June 2007). "Riwayat Hidup Husein Mutahar" [Curriculum Vitae of Husein Mutahar]. Bulletin Paskibraka ’78. Jakarta: Paguyuban Paskibraka 1978. p. 7. Archived from the original on 24 March 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
7. Nurcholis (16 August 2015). "Ketika H. Muthahar Menyelamatkan Bendera Pusaka" [When H. Muthahar Saved the Heritage Flag]. Sindonews.com. Archived from the original on 25 March 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
8. Firman, Tony (7 November 2016). "Husein Mutahar, Penyelamat Bendera Pusaka" [Husein Mutahar, Savior of the Heritage Flag]. Tirto.id. Archived from the original on 24 March 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
9. Winarno, Bondan (21 June 2007). ""In Memoriam" Husein Mutahar: Pemakaman Sederhana untuk Seorang Luar Biasa" ["In Memoriam" Husein Mutahar: A Simple Cemetery for an Extraordinary Person]. Bulletin Paskibraka ’78. Jakarta: Paguyuban Paskibraka 1978. pp. 4–5. Archived from the original on 24 March 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
10. Pamuji, 2010, p. 114.
11. Azram, Syaiful (21 June 2007). "Lagu "Syukur", Bahasa Mutahar" [The song "Syukur", Language of Mutahar]. Bulletin Paskibraka ’78. Jakarta: Paguyuban Paskibraka 1978. p. 15. Archived from the original on 24 March 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
12. Official (8 February 2009). "H. Mutahar - Potret Seorang Musikus Ulung" [H. Mutahar - Portrait of An Ultimate Musician]. Purna Paskibraka Indonesia Jakarta Pusat official website (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 18 December 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
13. "Lirik Lagu Hymne Almamater - Lagu Wajib Nasional" [Lyrics Hymne Almamater - National Mandatory Song]. KapanLagi.com (in Indonesian). Jakarta: KapanLagi Network. Archived from the original on 29 March 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
14. Kwarnas (1 June 2017). "Kak Adhyaksa Dault: Pramuka Itu Manusia Pancasila" [Kak Adhyaksa Dault: Scout is Pancasila Man]. Indonesia Scout Movement official website (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 29 March 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
15. "Sejarah Pembentukan Paskibraka" [History of the Formation of Paskibraka] (in Indonesian). Paskibraka. 26 January 2011. Archived from the original on 18 December 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
16. Official (30 October 2017). "Daftar Warganegara Republik Indonesia yang Mendapat Tanda Kehormatan Bintang Mahaputera tahun 1959 sd 2003" [List of Citizens of the Republic of Indonesia Who Received Mahaputra Star Sign of Honor from 1959 till 2003] (PDF). Jakarta: State Secretariat of the Republic of Indonesia. p. 46. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 December 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2018.

Bibliography

• Gunawan, Ismail (2007). Kumpulan Lagu Nasional [National Song Collection]. Depok: Puspa Swara. ISBN 9789791133715.
• Pamuji, Kukuh (2010). Komunikasi dan Edukasi Museum Istana Kepresidenan Jakarta [Communications and Education of Museum of the Presidential Palace Jakarta] (PDF) (M.Hum.). Depok: Faculty of Humanities, University of Indonesia.
• Katamsi, Amaroso (2001). 40 Tahun Gerakan Pramuka [40 Years of Scout Movement]. Jakarta: National Kwartir of Gerakan Pramuka Indonesia. ISBN 9798318137.
• Official (2015). Peraturan Menteri Pemuda dan Olahraga Republik Indonesia Nomor 0065 Tahun 2015: Tentang Penyelenggaraan Kegiatan Pasukan Pengibar Bendera Pusaka (PASKIBRAKA) [Regulation of the Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Indonesia Number 0065 of 2015: On the Implementation of the Activity of National Flag Hoisting Troop (PASKIBRAKA)] (PDF). Jakarta: Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Indonesia. pp. 3–9.